Best places to live in Idaho
CityLedger tracks 3 Idaho metros, led by Boise City. Cost of living runs from about 94 to 98 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 3 metros in Idaho, the largest being the Boise City, ID Metro Area (around 844,979 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $83,061 in Coeur d'Alene to $88,695 in Boise City, and typical rent from $1,257 a month in Idaho Falls upward — a reminder that "Idaho" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Idaho Falls is the standout for affordability: it carries Idaho's lowest overall price level (about 94 against a U.S. average of 100) and, because pay holds up against those low costs, also the state's highest cost-adjusted income — about $90,843, the clearest sign of where a paycheck stretches furthest.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Idaho levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 6.0% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Idaho state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Boise City earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 64/100; Coeur d'Alene is the fastest-growing, up 13.7% over the latest population estimate; Coeur d'Alene carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $9 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 64 | 98 | $88,695 | $1,628/mo |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 61 | 98 | $83,061 | $1,578/mo |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 59 | 94 | $85,767 | $1,257/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Idaho — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Idaho?
- By overall price level, Idaho Falls is the most affordable metro in Idaho, at about 94 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Idaho?
- Idaho Falls has the highest cost-adjusted income in Idaho — a median of about $90,843 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Idaho have a state income tax?
- Yes. Idaho levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 6.0%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Idaho metro has the highest livability score?
- Boise City, at 64/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.